I don’t often write Council Corners unless I feel very strongly about an issue. We, the citizens and business community of Foster City, have a very important issue coming before us next year. In November of 2011, we will have a City Council election. There will be three seats out of five open for contention. It is assumed that the one incumbent eligible to run for reelection will compete. It is important to note that these three seats will have the power to set the policy for fiscal responsibility in the city for at least the next four years.
Based on the current budget and five-year financial plan, the General Fund has a structured deficit of about $2.9 million per year. Our General Fund Budget for FY 2010–2011 is about $ 31 million. The City Council has established goals to achieve a balanced budget without the use of General Fund reserves by FY 2013-2014 while maintaining a reserve of 33.3% of operating expenditures. To close this deficit, the City will need to reduce budget expenditures or increase revenues by $2.9 million over the next three years. If the City of Foster City is to remain in a fiscally sound position, the Council majority will need to stay committed to accomplishing these goals; hence, the importance of next year’s election.
It is my opinion, based on having been the City Manager of Foster City for 17 years and a member of the City Council for the past 9 years, that any responsible candidate for next year’s election must be prepared to attend all open budget sessions of the council between now and next July. The Council has sessions open to the public starting in October of this year going through June of 2011. There will be some sessions that are legally closed to the public due to employee contract discussions.
It is my position that I will only support candidates who will commit to making the necessary adjustments to reach a balanced budget by the 2013/2014 fiscal year and still maintain a 33.3% reserve in the General Fund. I would also expect the candidate to be able to, in general terms, express how they would accomplish this responsibility.
I have worked for and served Foster City for almost 33 years in one capacity or another. To say I am proud of our community and its accomplishment during that period would be an understatement. There have been a great number of dedicated people that have lead to what Foster City is today. I will not passively sit by and watch the City of Foster City become just another of the many cities in our county and state which are broken due to fiscal irresponsibility on the part of elected officials. Those are my thoughts and the way I feel about the importance of selecting our next city council.
You can reach me about this matter and others at rwyoff@fostercity.org.
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